The truth is, each and every one of us is marked. Getting a permanent blemish on your skin is not so had when you think about it. Just remember how many times you fell when you were little. Perhaps you fell off the bike, maybe you cut yourself while cooking later on in life, or maybe you had a medical procedure that gave you a permanent stamp.
Scars tell our life journey. They can remind us of our bravery and heroism, but in most cases, they just remind us of our clumsiness. We usually don’t pay great attention to those little blemishes on the skin; however big prominent scaring does not only affect our physical appearance but also our self-esteem and social life.
Scars are for most people undesirable. For that very reason, cosmetic industry bombards us with anti-scar product advertisements on daily basis. People have been trying to find a solution to this problem for ages.
So, what did the people who lived decades ago use in their skin beauty regimen?
Yep, you guessed it. Essential oils!
For centuries, essential oils have been used for minimizing the appearance of scars. Their therapeutic properties beneficially affect our skin on a cellular level. They promote healing, improve pigmentation and most importantly reduce the appearance of scar tissue.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of essential oils.
10 Top Essential Oils for Scars
1. Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense essential oil is an age-old remedy derived from the resin of Olibanum trees native to Arabian Peninsula and Africa. One of the main reasons why this volatile oil is great for minimizing the appearance of scars is because of its potent cicatrisant qualities that promote wound healing.
When applied to the troubled areas, frankincense essential oil speeds up the fading of stretch marks, blemishes, acne scars and scars induced by injuries and surgeries.
Frankincense essential oil can help you improve the overall health and look of your skin. As an excellent cytophylactic agent, frankincense oil will help you replace old dying cells with new healthy ones. Its priceless anti-aging therapeutic effects will help you tone and tighten your skin while simultaneously correcting the texture of the scar tissue.
2. Calendula Essential Oil
If you have ever used a calendula cream on your busted knee right after you fell, you already know how healing marigold flowers can be. Calendula essential oil is a more potent alternative to the calendula cream. Strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities of the oil help speed up the healing process of damaged skin tissue as well as prevent the formation of scars by protecting the skin from free radical damage.
This potential of calendula was proven in 2009 when a study published in the Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology showed that topical ointments containing calendula help accelerate healing. The 90% of wounds that were treated with calendula extract closed within 8 days while only 51,1% of untreated wounds closed within the same time frame.
3. Carrot Seed Essential Oil
Carrot seed essential oil is an overall great remedy for healing scars and wounds on the skin. Its antiseptic, antioxidant and stimulant properties promote healing and healthy growth of new skin cells.
Components such as Alpha and Beta-Pinene, Beta Carotene, and Limonene add the overall value to the oil. You can use carrot seed essential oil as an aid for preventing loose skin and signs of aging as well. Free radicals in our body and the environment perpetuate aging of the skin. Topical application of carrot seed essential oil can help you prevent and minimize the appearance of scars, blemishes, fine lines, and wrinkles.
4. Myrrh Essential Oil
Myrrh essential oil is a staple remedy in homes of people living in Mediterranean, Africa, and the Middle East. Obtained from the Commiphora tree native to Egypt, myrrh essential oil is known for its ability to heal wounds. As an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and astringent substance, myrrh oil is great for minimizing the appearance of scars and for smoothing the skin.
Myrrh essential oil can prevent the formation of prominent scaring by helping a fresh wound heal accordingly. Topical application stimulates blood circulation which ensures a sufficient oxygen supply to the affected areas. Increased blood flow speeds up the healing process and fading of scars.
5. Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium essential oil is an excellent natural remedy for improving the health of the skin. As a powerful cicatrisant substance, geranium essence helps scars caused by an injury, surgery or acne fade away much faster. This is achieved by stimulating the blood circulation right underneath the surface to the skin. Increased blood flow rushes vital oxygen to the affected areas. Oxygen helps new skin cells grow accordingly.
Geranium essential oil shows great results when applied to the acne scars. Acne scars are small but, but their discoloration still makes us self-couscous. Geranium oil helps fight this problem by evenly distributing the melanin, a pigment that gives the skin its color. Geranium treatment can correct pigmentation of age spots as well.
6. Helichrysum Essential Oil
Helichrysum essential oil is obtained from helichrysum flower native to the France, Italy and other surrounding European countries. This natural remedy is in comparisons to other essential oils quite expensive, rightfully so. Every drop of helichrysum essential oil is enriched with powerful antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and cytophylactic qualities that come in handy when treating different skin injuries including scars.
When topically applied, helichrysum essential oil stimulates quick healing, making the old and new scars disappear much faster as a result. Scar fading is a result of the cell-recycling process, summed up by this saying: out with the old in with the new. Helichrysum encourages the replacement of old skin cells with new, healthy ones. In addition, this volatile oil is a great natural emollient that will help your skin stay nourished and hydrated.
7. Neroli Essential Oil
Neroli essential oil is derived from fragrant flowers of Seville orange tree. The extracted oil is not only known for its aroma but also for its rejuvenating and nourishing properties. If you are looking for ways to improve the look of your scars look no further. Neroli essential oil can revive your skin at a cellular level. As an antiseptic and emollient substance, neroli helps treat scars, stretch marks, and wrinkles.
Moisturizing the skin on regular bases alone can improve the appearance of scar tissue and stretch marks. Stretch marks are one of the most common forms of scarring. The look of them is instantly improved when skin is properly hydrated. You can use neroli essential oil to do so. Regular topical application of diluted neroli oil will help your skin establish right moisture and oil ratio.
8. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is an extremely versatile natural remedy. The oil of lavender is an inexpensive alternative to the pricy anti-scar creams you can find in every beauty store. In fact, if you look at the ingredients of most skincare products, it is most likely you will find lavender somewhere on that list. So why not use it in its purest form, right?
Lavender essential oil soothes and nourishes the skin in many different ways. Therapeutic lavender essence speeds the healing of scrapes, burns, cut and wounds. This ultimately decreases the chances of new scarring after the healing has begun.
According to the 2016 study published in BCM Complementary & Alternative Medicine, topical application of lavender oil promotes wound healing in early phase by accelerating the formation of granulation tissue and by promoting the synthesis of collagen. Granulation tissue is a connective tissue that forms on the surface of the wound when the healing begins.
9. Cedarwood Essential Oil
Cedarwood essential oil is obtained from cedar wood tree through the process of steam distillation. This method of extractions successfully preserves all antiseptic and tonic properties of the cedar wood tree. These qualities of the oil come in handy when treating a number of different skin conditions including eczema and acne. Unfortunately, both conditions cause blemishes and scars on the dermis.
Acne and eczema scars can lower our confidence drastically. Adding one drop of cedarwood oil to your favorite lotion will encourage healing and fading of any unwanted blemishes. Cedarwood may even help you improve your acne by normalizing your skin oil (sebum) production. Cedarwood is also great for tightening the skin and for establishing that desired youthful glow.
10. Sandalwood Essential Oil
There is a 40 to the 80-years old history behind every drop of sandalwood essential oil. The oil is made from matured, preferably 80 years old, sandalwood trees. The older the tree is the better the aroma of essential oil is. The aroma is not the only sought-after attribute of this natural remedy. Its emollient, disinfectant and tonic qualities are especially desired in the skin beauty industry.
Sandalwood essential oil can prevent the formation of prominent scars by protecting fresh wounds from infections. Infections can delay healing and make scars appear more unsightly. Scars tend to look worse in the areas where the skin is loose, stretch marks especially. Sandalwood may be a solution to this problem. As a mild astringent, it can induce minor contractions and make any soft tissue tighter. For that reason, you can find sandalwood as an ingredient in many facial toners.
For more on uses of essential oils, and different things they can be used for, please check out our complete list of essential oils and what they are used for in this next article.
5 Best Remedies for Treating Scars
Note: Know that following essential oil recipes are not recommendation or substitute for the treatment provided by your medical specialist. If you are having any concerns, consult with your doctor beforehand.
1. Go-to scar fading balm
Ingredients:
- 1-3 drops of any essential oil for scars
- ½ – 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Gently apply the balm to your scar as often as desired.
2. Scar moisturizer
Ingredients:
- 5 tsp of jojoba oil
- 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil
- 1-2 drops of neroli essential oil
- 1-2 drops of rose essential oil
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Apply the moisturizer on your scar every day.
3. Ultimate anti-scar salve
Ingredients:
- 9 tsp of sunflower or sweet almond oil
- 1 tsp rosehip seed oil
- 1/8 tsp of vitamin E oil
- 30 drops of myrrh essential oil
- 30 drops of lavender essential oil
- 30 drops of frankincense essential oil
- 30 drops of cedarwood or sandalwood essential oil
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients in a 2 oz glass bottle.
- If you do not have vitamin E oil you can use two 250 IU vitamin E capsules instead. Simply pierce the capsules and pour the content into the glass bottle.
- Shake the bottle to combine all ingredients.
- Massage a little bit of salve on your scars twice a day.
- Continue with the treatment until you are satisfied with the results.
4. Scar healing lotion
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp of lotion
- 1 tsp of rosehip seed oil
- 1 drops of neroli or lavender essential oil
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Apply the enriched lotion on your scar at least twice a day.
5. Anti-scar roll-on balm
Ingredients:
- 16 drops of frankincense essential oil
- 16 drops of helichrysum essential oil
- 8 drops of geranium essential oil
- Tamanu oil or rosehip seed oil
Instruction:
- Add all essential oils in exact measurements to a 20 ml roller bottle.
- Fill the rest of the bottle with tamanu oil. Leave a little bit of space at the top so you can snap the roller back on.
- Apply the treatment on your scars up to three times a day for as long as necessary. It is recommended to give yourself a one week break after every three weeks of use.
Conclusion
Each and every one of us has at least one scar on the body, whether it is small or large, old or new. We all have them. Usually, we do not see any issues with those small, unnoticeable marks, but when a scar becomes a conversation starter and a topic of discussion, it can cause more damage to us than we think, especially if it is attached to the traumatic experience.
Things are not as gray as they may seem at times. The appearance of your scar can be improved with the help of trusty essential oils. People have been using their therapeutic effects for centuries and so can you!
Here are some last tips that will help you establish a successful treatment:
- Do a skin patch test every time you introduce a new essential oil to your therapy.
- Always dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil of your choice (olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil etc.) Diluting 2 drops of essential oil with 1 teaspoon of carrier oil should be sufficient.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, make sure that essential oils you are using are not harmful in any way.
- Never ingest essential oils.
References (medical studies):
